Everyone remembers the Ryne Sandberg game in 1984. Well, it meant a lot more to us Kleins than you can ever imagine. The game may not be exactly how you remember it, but this is how it truly happened, as it will forever be etched in my memory.

Setting:

June 23, 1984. We had just graduated from high school, and were living a great life. But suddenly one day Ken got sick. We didn’t really know what it was, but we weren’t sure if he was going to make it. I met him that day in the hospital.

Fade In.

CHRIS: Well, uh, Ken, uh, who's your favorite Cub?

KEN: Ryne Sandberg.

CHRIS: All right. What if I tell Ryne Sandberg to hit a home run tomorrow, just for you.

KEN: Would he? Ryne Sandberg would do that?

CHRIS: For you he would.

KEN: Would he hit two home runs?

CHRIS: Two? Sure Ken, yeah. But then you gotta promise you'll do something for me.

KEN: I know. Get out of this bed one day and walk again.

CHRIS: Yeah, that would be nice. But I really just to borrow your car.

I left the hospital thinking about how to get this done. I called the Cubs office a bunch of times, and could not get through. Finally I decided I had to go down to Wrigley and see if there was some way to get in touch with him. They let me right into the locker room when I told them I was Marty Goldberg (pronounced Mahty Goldbuhg).

CHRIS: Mr. Sandberg?

RYNO: Yeah.

CHRIS: Yeah, uh, look, you don't know me.

RYNO: I can give you an autograph there, but my pen's kind of screwed up. You'd only like half a "R" or something.

CHRIS: No, it's uh, not that see,. It's about my brother. It’s his 18th birthday and he is in a hospital. I was wondering if you could do something to lift his spirits.

RYNO: Sure, I could help you there.

CHRIS: Sure, well I promised you would hit him two home runs.

RYNO: Say what?

CHRIS: You know, Klick!. A couple of dingers.

RYNO: You promised a kid in the hospital that I would hit two home runs?

CHRIS: Yeah, well, no good?

RYNO: Yeah. That's no good. It's terrible. You don't hit home runs like that. It's hard to hit home runs. And where the heck did you get two from?

CHRIS: Two is better than one.

RYNO: That, that's ridiculous. I'm not a home run hitter.

CHRIS: Well, Dave Kingman did it.

RYNO: He did not.

CHRIS: Oh, do you say that Dave Kingman is a liar?

RYNO: I'm not calling him a liar but he was not stupid enough to promise two.

CHRIS: Well, maybe I did overextend myself.

RYNO: How the heck did you get in here anyway?

Cut to Ken and Chris at the hospital watching the game.

TV: The Cubs take the field on a beautiful afternoon.

CHRIS: It's hot in here. Hey, Ken, can I have some of your Dr. Pepper?

KEN: After Ryne Sandberg hits his first home run.

Hours later, with the Cubs about to lose to the Cards and Bruce Sutter

TV: And the two and one pitch to Sandberg. A towering shot back to deep left field and it's gone.

CHRIS: Yeah.

TV: A home run for Ryne Sandberg. The Cubs tie it in the 9th.

CHRIS: OH YEAH! ALL RIGHT!

KEN: One more to go.

Shortly thereafter in the Hospital

TV: Bottom of the tenth, score tied. Two and one to Ryne Sandberg.

CHRIS: You know Ken, it's very very hard to hit two home runs in one game. Even for Ryne Sandberg.

KEN: He can do it, Chris. I know he can. He'll do it for me.

TV: "Crack! Long fly ball into deep left field over Smith's head . . . Ryno's rounding second Ryno going for third, Ryno rounding . . .

CHRIS: Come on Come on!

TV: . . . third being waived in.

CHRIS: GO! GO!!

TV: . . . Ozzie throws it over Porter’s head. Sandberg is safe at home. And the Cubs tie it again.

CHRIS: An Inside The Park Home Run!

KEN: Yeay!

CHRIS: All Right! Yeah, well, I guess I'll be on my way (grabs car keys)

TV: That's being scored a triple for Ryne Sandberg with a throwing error charged to Ozzie.

KEN: Hey, …

CHRIS: Huh?

KEN: … that's not a home run. (grabs keys)

CHRIS: Yeah, maybe not technically, but …

KEN: You said he'd hit two home runs.

CHRIS: Oh, come on, Ken.! That's just as good!

KEN: Well, you're not taking that car.

CHRIS: Now, Ken, we had a deal . . . gimme that

Chris later talking on phone to Cubs front office.

CHRIS: Just tell Ryno that tomorrow he has to catch a ball in his pants. He’ll know what I am talking about…..

Fade out.